An 11-year-old boy and his grandmother are dead in Arizona after police say the boy shot her and then himself after he was asked to clean his room.
According to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, they received a call from Doyle Hebert in Litchfield Park, Ariz. on Saturday just after 5 p.m. who told them his grandson shot and killed his wife before turning the gun on himself.
The couple had full custody of their grandson, ABC-affiliate ABC 15 reports.
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Police say the grandfather told them that he and his wife, Yvonne Woodard, had asked him to clean his room and pick up after himself throughout the day because he was being stubborn, according to CBS-affiliate KPHO.
They then sat down to watch TV which is when Hebert told authorities his grandson shot Woodard in the back of the head.
He ran after his grandson briefly before returning to his wife to try to help her.
That’s when he said he heard another gunshot and saw his grandson take a few steps before falling to the ground, Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez told KTVK.
Neighbours say they’re shocked about the incident and are trying to support the family.
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Walter Venerable said he had seen the boy ride his bicycle and play around the neighbourhood.
“It really hasn’t set in just yet… I mean this is a nice neighbourhood,” he said. “It’s just a tragic, tragic thing.”
The gun belonged to Hebert and authorities say there were no previous signs the boy would harm someone or himself.
An investigation is ongoing.